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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(Modem J. W. BODGB.

BALLOT BOX.

No. 346,710. Patented Aug. 8, 1886 N PETERS. Photo Llihogmphcr. Washinginn. ac.

(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. BODGE. BALLOT BOX.

No. 346,710. Patented Au .3,1886.. 4.4-. i. 5-

N. PETERS. momuuw u hur. Washvnghm 0. (3V

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIQEQ JOHN \V. BODGE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

BALLOT-BOX.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,710, dated August 3, 1886.

Application filed April 22, 1855. Renewed March 24, 1886. Serial No. 190,492. (ModcL) To all? whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. Bonen, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ballot-l3oxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,- such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in ballot-boxes; and it consists in, first, the combination of a ballot-box having an opening through it in which to deposit the ballots, a recessed revolving cylinder placed just under the openings, and which closes the opening when the cylinder is turned partially around to deposit a ballot; second, the combination of a revolving cylinder having a slottedrecess in one side with a shaft which extends through the cylinder and is provided with arms to project through the slots third, the combination of the revolving slotted and recessed cylinder with a shaft which extends through the cylinder, and is provided with arms, and which has a pinion on one end to operate a registering mechanism; fourth, the combina tion of the revolving cylinder, the shaft which projects through it and is provided with arms, a plate which revolves with the shaft and is provided with recesses in its edges, a printing mechanism, and an alarm; fifth, the revolving recessed cylinder provided with teeth and a recess at each end of the teeth with a spring actuated reversible dog; sixth, the combination of the recessed cylinder, the shaft which extends through it and is provided with arms, the plate or holding device for holding the ballot, and a printing or canceling mechanism; seventh, the combination and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

Eigures l and 2 are side elevations taken from opposite sides. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine detached from the cover of the ballot-box. Fig. i is a verticalsection. Figs. 5 and 6 are edge views taken from opposite sides. Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are detail views.

A represents the ballot-box, which preferably has its four sides formed of glass, so that the contents of the box can. be seen at all times.

All of the operating mechanism is secured to the under side of the cover of the box, and this cover is hinged to the box in such a manner that when it is raised the entire top of the box is left free, so that the contents of the box can be freely emptied or lifted out. One end of the operating-shaft of the mechanism extends outward just opposite a hole that is made in one side of the box, and applied to the end of the shaft through the hole in the side is the operating knob orhandle by means of which the parts are operated, so as to deposit the ballot in the box, print or cancel it, and count it. lVhen this knob is detached from the shaft, placed in the box, and the cover locked, the box is sealed.

Journaled in the framework 0, which is secured to the under side of the cover, is the cylinder D, which has the recess E made in one side to receive the ballots, and which recess, when the cylinder is left free to move, comes just under the opening in the cover. The bottom of this recess Eis slotted, so that the arms on the central shaft can project through, and curves outward so as to discharge the ballot into the box when the cylinder is turned partially around for this purpose. Connected to the hub of this cylinder is a suitable spring, F, by means of which the cylinder is automatically returned to place each time after it has been partially turned for the purpose of depositing a ballot. On one edge of this cylinder is made seriesof teeth, G, and at each end of the teeth is formed a recess, H. A springactuated dog, I, engages with the teeth G, and serves to prevent the cylinder from being turned backward,after it has once been started forward, until it has been moved its full dis tance around. lVhen the end of the dog I reaches one of the recesses H, the dog turns upon its pivot so as to extend in the direction in which the cylinder revolves, and is thus made to reverse its position every time the cylinder is moved its full distance. lVhen the cylinder is being turned forward to deposit a ballot, or when the cylinder is returning to position after having been moved its full distance, this dog slips freely over the teeth; but if any effort is made to turn the cylinder back before it has made its full movement the dog checks it at once.

Inside of the cylinder is placed a short shaft,

K, which has two sets of arms, J, secured to it, and which shaft and arms are made to move forward with the cylinder only when a ballot has been deposited. \Vhen no ballot has been "dropped in the recess E, the turning of the cylinder does not affect this shaft. When a ballot is deposited in the recess E, the cylinder moves forward without affecting the shaft K until the ballot is caught between the vertical side of the recess E and the inner side of one of the sets of arms J, and is thus made to bind the cylinder and the shaft K, provided with the arms J, together and cause them to move as one. The shaft K and cylinder D then revolve about one-half way around, so as to drop the ballot in the box and cancel'it by printing upon its surface. The arms J are arranged in sets, as shown, so as to project outward and receive the ballot between them when first deposited in the recess E, and then assist in pushing the ballot from the side of the cylinder when it is ready to be dropped in the box. The arms J move with the cylinder until the cylinder stops, and then, as the cylinder begins to move back, itreleases the ballot which it has been holding against one set of the arms, and the second set then acts to push the ballot from the vertical side of the recess in the cylinder, should it stick to the cylinder instead of dropping down in the box.

Secured to the end of the shaft is a flanged disk or plate, L, which revolves one-half around each time that a ballot is deposited and the cylinder turned. In order to prevent this plate L from turning too easily,a frictional spring, M, is applied to its shoulder, so that both ends of the spring bear against it. Upon opposite edges of this plate L are formed the, shouldered recesses N, which when the plate is revolved serves to first operate the lever O for the purpose of striking the gong, and then the lever I for pressing the inking-roller Q against the ballot that is being deposited, so as to cancel it. The lever O has a notch made inits end, so as to catch behind one of the shoulders when the plate has made its full movement with the cylinder,and thus act as a stop. This lever or arm 0 projects from the shaft R, around whicha spiral spring is wound for the purpose of returning it and the parts connected thereto to position as soon as it is left free to move. Also connected to this shaft R is the hammer S, which is thrown so as to strike the gong every time the end of the lever drops off from the shoulder down into the recess. The inclined side of the recess, as the plate revolves, lifts the end of the lever upon the top of the flange again, where it is held ready to catch behind the next shoulder when the plate again stops. The lever P also bears upon the flange on the plate L in advance of the one 0;,but it is not operated until after the plate has been moved far enough to present the ballot to the inking-roll to be canceled. This lever P is connected-to the shaft T, which also has the frame U secured to it, and which shaft is returned to position, when left free to move, by means of the spring applied to it. In the frame U is journaled the perforated cylinder V, which is wrapped around with cord or other suitable material whichabsorbs and holds the ink, and which has one of its ends made removable, so that after the cylinder has been removed from the frame this end can be taken off to allow the cylinder to be freely filled. Also journaled in this frame U is the inking-roller Q, which bears against the surface of the cylinder for the purpose of becoming inked, and which roller prints the ballot when the frame is moved by the lever P inward toward the cylinder D. After this cylinder and plate L have been moved a short distance, during which the ballot is being drawn from the recess E and spread upon the side of the cylinder, the end of the lever P drops into one of the recesses N, when theinking-roller is brought into contact with the ballot. As the cylinder and the flange continue to move, the inclined side of the recess gradually raises the end of the lever I? up, and after it has been moved a certain distance the inking-roller is lifted out of contact with the ballot.

In order to prevent the plate L from moving until the ballot has been caught between the vertical side of the cylinder and the arms J, there are secured to the inner side of the flange on the plate L the two projections or stops X, against which the spring W alternately catches. Until the end of this spring has been raised upward by the stud Y on the cylinder the plate L cannot move: This stud Y only operates this spring after the cylinder has moved far enough to catch hold of the ballot. These stops are placed directly opposite each other, and when the plate stops revolving one of the stops is just in front of the spring.

J ournaled in the frame-work G is a springactuated shaft, Z, which has projecting from one of its sides the flat plate A, which serves to hold the ballot against the side of the cylinder in position to be printed upon. This plate A is not affected by the rotation of the cylinder until the Vertical side of the recess E strikes against the plate and forces it outward. The tension of the spring applied to the shaft Z keeps the plate pressed against the side of the. cylinder upon the top of the ballot. When the cylinder D is released and flies back into place, the plate re-enters the recess and again assumes its normal position. Also secured to the shaft Z is an arm, B, which projects down at one end of the cylinder, so as to be struck by the stud or projection O on the cylinder. In case the spring on the shaft Z does not return it to position properly, this arm is struck by I the stud, so as to force the plate back into place as the cylinder springs back into position so as to close the opening E. In order to prevent this plate from being thrown upward far enough to strike the side of the inking-cylinder K, a stop, D, is secured to the inner side of the frame 0, and which projects ICO IIS

over one edge of the plate. Also secured to the frame 6 is a bent rod, F, which projects across one side of the cylinder, and serves to hold the ballot in place after it has passed beyond the holding-plate A. This step D prevents the ballot from becoming detached from the cylinder until it is in position to fall into the box.

Secured to one end of the cylinder D is a block of rubber, G, which serves as a stop to the cylinder in moving in both directions. After the cylinder has once begun to move and the recess E passes from under the opening in the top of the box through which the ballots are deposited, the round portion of the cylinder closes this opening, so that no other ballot can be deposited until the cylinder has returned to place. If more than one ballot is deposited at the same time, only one is printed or canceled and only one is registered.

Upon one end of the plate L is formed a pinion, l, which engages with and operates a registering mechanism of any kind, so that as each ballot is deposited it is registered.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim 1. In a ballot-box, the combination of the box having an opening through it just over the operating mechanism,with a revolving cyl inder having a recess in one side to receive the ballot, and which cylinder, when turned to deposit the ballot, closes the opening, so that no other ballots can be deposited until the cylinder is returned to position, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the revolving cylinder having a recess in one side to receive the ballots,and slots through this recessed portion, with the shaft which passes through the cylinder, and which is provided with arms which project through the slots and help hold the ballot while the cylinder is being turned.

3. The combination of the revolving recessed and slotted cylinder, the shaft which extends through the cylinder and is provided with arms which project through the slots in the cylinder, a pinion on the shaft, and a registering mechanism for counting each ballot as deposited, substantially as set forth."

4. The combination of the recessed, slotted, and revolving cylinder, the shaft which extends through the cylinder and is provided with arms which project through the slots in the cylinder, the plate which revolves with the shaft, and the recesses in the edges, a lever, P, and spring-actuated shaft, which has the frame U secured thereto, carrying an inkingcylinder and printing-roller, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the revolving recessed and slotted cylinder, the shaft which extends through the cylinder and is provided with arms which project through the slots in the cylinder, the plate L, which turns with the shaft and which has recesses in its edges, with the lever G, spring-actuated shaft, and the alarm, substantially as shown.

6. The combination ofthe revolving recessed and slotted cylinder, the shaft which extends through the cylinder and is provided with arms which project through the slots, the plate L, which turns with the shaft and is provided with recesses in its edges, the lever P, the frame U, and inking cylinder and roller, and the lever O, spring-actuated shaft, and alarm, whereby the ballots are printed or canceled and an alarm struck as each one is deposited, substantially as described.

'7. The combination of the recessed cylinder provided with teeth, and having a recess at each end of the teeth, with a spring-actuated reversible dog, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the recessed, slotted, and revolving cylinder, the shaft which extends through the cylinder and is provided with arms which project through the slots in the cylinder, the plate L,which revolves with the shaft, and which is provided with the stops X, with the spring lV and the stud Y on the cylinder, substantially as specified.

S. The combination of the revolving slotted and recessed cylinder, the shaft which extends through the cylinder and is provided with arms which project through the slots in the cylinder, a shaft, and a plate, A, for holding the ballot upon the edge of the cylinder, with a printing or canceling device which marks upon the ballot, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si nature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN XV. BODGE.

Yv'itnesses:

J. Ener y Jones, Mans 1mm; Brimrs'rnn. 

